Notable for his commanding buildings clad in bright white aluminum, architect Richard Meier, who recently celebrated 50 years in the industry has become increasingly comfortable working with stone. It was his work on the Getty center in Los Angeles—for which he hand-picked, quarried, and "guillotined" 1.2 million square feet of beige travertine into one of the most recognizable institutional facades in the world—that made his name synonymous with stone. In this extended interview from our Materials Sourcebook special issue, he gives us the inside track on travertine, granite, and beyond.

To celebrate the launch of American Standard's DXV line, designer Susan Serra creates a modern kitchen inspired by Nordic crafts and contemporary furniture. “Scandinavian design is my personal aesthetic favorite,” Serra says. "I wanted the mood to be one of comfort, of casual living, and of beauty."